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January 1, 2017

Choosing Your Breast Implant Size

Once you’ve decided to go forward with breast implants surgery (or a breast augmentation), there are many choices that need to be made. In particular, you may be wondering what size of implant you should choose.

Selecting an implant size may be difficult for some. After all, the size you choose will determine the look you have for many years to come. You want your implants to be just the right size for you—not too big or too small—and in good proportion with your body frame.

But while choosing your breast implant size may seem like a tough decision, it isn’t so bad when you’ve enlisted the help of an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon. When you come to Perimeter Plastic Surgery, Dr. Deutsch will walk you through all of the different choices available and advise you about what breast implant size will work best to achieve your aesthetic goals. You will have absolutely nothing to worry about!

Still, it’s important for patients to be aware of their main options when it comes to implant sizes, and to understand something about why doctors make the recommendations they do.

Factors to Consider

For starters, you will need to honestly and carefully think through your expectations for the final outcome, and understand what is and isn’t realistic. Some of the most important considerations are:

Your physical features, including the size of your body frame, chest and shoulder width, and the size of your waist and hips. Breast implants come in different “base widths” and you will want your implants to be in proportion with the rest of your body. So if you have naturally petit features, a very wide implant probably wouldn’t look right.

Natural breast measurements. You will need to have sufficient natural breast tissue to cover the breast implant sizes that you’re considering. Patients with very small natural breasts might not have enough tissue to accommodate very large implants.

Breast symmetry. Some women need different-sized implants in each breast, to create symmetry that may have been lacking in the natural breasts before surgery. This is a good opportunity to correct asymmetry if it has been an issue for you.

Your weight. If you plan to lose a lot of weight or become pregnant in future, there may be excess sagging of your breasts after augmentation.

Your lifestyle

The breast size you are envisioning. You will need to think about whether you want a more natural look. Dramatic results do not look natural and are sure to get noticed.

Understanding Implant Sizing

Also important to understand is that breast implants don’t come in cup sizes like bras do. Instead, breast implants are sized in cubic centimeters (or cc’s), which actually refers to the volume—how much saline or silicone filler they contain. The higher the number, the larger the implant.

The smallest implants that are available start at 125cc (which is great for correcting asymmetry), and then they go all the way up to the 1200cc range. Most women, though, tend to choose implants in the 150cc to 650cc range. Every 150 to 200 cc is comparable to one increased cup size.

While women who opt for breast augmentation do so to have larger breasts, you don’t want to select implants that are too large for your body frame. “It’s important to take into consideration the implant size that your breasts are physically able to withstand,” Dr. Deutsch says. “Not everyone is built to accommodate large implants. If you choose implants that are too large, you could put yourself at risk for a number of short-term and long-term complications.”

Sometimes a smaller implant is a better choice. This is a trend we are seeing more and more at Perimeter Plastic Surgery. Increasingly, Dr. Deutsch has been performing breast augmentations with smaller implants, which range in size from 175 to 250 cc.

Smaller implants generally appear more natural and are less obtrusive than larger implants, and therefore may more easily fit into a woman’s established lifestyle. Sometimes a more subtle improvement is desired—for instance, a woman may want to restore breast volume lost due to breast feedings or pregnancy—and the smaller-sized implants are ideal to achieve that. Smaller implants can be perfect for women who simply want to “fill out” clothing and swimsuits without being flashy or drawing a lot of attention to themselves.

The main drawback about small breast implants is that occasionally patients regret not going bigger. The results may simply not be as dramatic as they had hoped for, and after the surgery is over, they might wish they had selected the larger breast implants instead. This is why it’s so important to consider all of your options during the consultation process.

Book your complimentary consultation

If you think breast augmentation may be a good option for you, the only way to know for sure is to come in for a complimentary consultation with Dr. Deutsch. During your appointment, we will help you to understand all of the facts about breast implants, and you will have the opportunity to ask any questions and raise any concerns you might have. We also have breast implant samples in our office, so you can “try on” new breast sizes to see how they will feel and look underneath your clothing.

To book your appointment, please call Perimeter Plastic Surgery at (404) 800-7163. Dr. Deutsch will be happy to work with you, to help you decide which size, as well as shape, material, placement and projection, is right for you.